Socket for radio tubes



July 21, 1942. 2,290,306

' s. Y. WHITE SOCKET FOR RA'DIO TUBES Filed July '7, 1941 INVENTOR. jlDNEY YOUNGWH/TE.

BY WMV Patented July 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,290,306 socxn'rron na ro TUBES Sidney Young White, Chicago, I ll. Application July 1, 1941, Serial No. 401,311

. 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to sockets for radio tubes of'the type having radial connector prongs wherein rotary movement of the tube is required to establish engagement between the connector clips of the socket and-the prongs of the tube.

In tubes of the typerefe rred to the various connector prongs are frequently not at the same level, some being higher or lower axially of the tube'than others, nor do they always extend in a plane perpendicularly to the tube axis, some being tilted upwardly and others being tilted the circuit elements with which the tube may be connected, or ground. This is particularly important for tubes which are intended for operation at ultra short waves where even slight differences in the current path between the tube prongs and the connected circuit elements or ground may introduce such varying degrees of inductances or capacitances into the tube circuits as will-seriously disturb the performanceof the apparatus of which the tube forms a part.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a socket for radio tubes of the type referred to, particularly for tubes intended for ultra short wave operation, where axial or angular disalignment of the tube prongs is automatically and reliably compensated for. It is another object of the present invention to provide a connector clip for such tube sockets wherein the current path position by vibration or other mechanical disa between the points of contact of tube prong and 1 clip and connected. circuit element or ground will be the same for all prongs in spite of possible axial and/or angular misalignment of any one or all of these prongs. It is another object of the present invention to provide a connector clip of the type referred to wherein the current path between connector prong and connected circuit element or ground will be direct and of the shortest order and will be free from any ambiguity such as may introduce varying amounts of inductance or capacitance into the individual circuits of the tube.

In tubes of the type referred to the connector prongs are frequently covered with poorly conductive layers of metal oxides which are formed during the evacuation process of the tube and which frequently prevent or seriously impair the;

operation of the tubes so that they may have to be removed from the sockets in order to scrape the prongs.

'It. is a further object of the present invention to provide a clip construction for tubes of the type in question where electrically conductive contact between tube prong and clip is automatically and reliably established in inserting the tube into the socket whether the conductor prongs are coveredby non-conductive layers or not.

In tubes of the type under discussion, and particularly-those intended for ultra short wave operation, it is likewise important that a tube once inserted into the socket remains firmly in its position, that is to say, that it does not get loose and change its position due to vibration or shocks to which it may be subjected during practical use.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a connector clip for radio tubes by which the tube is securely held in the position in which it is originally inserted and is not subject to loosening and consequent change of turbances of use.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with the aid of the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a socket in accordance with the invention shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the socket in mounted condition and taken along lines 2--2 of Fig. 1 with a radio tube of the acorn type placed in an operative position thereon;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on a still further enlarged scale, of one of the connector clips with which the socket of the present invention is provided;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale of a connector clip in mounted condition, a part of the socket being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the same connector clip viewed from the center of the socket;

Fig. 6 is the same front elevation of the connector clip as illustrated in Fig. 5 showing a. tube prong in engagement with the clip.

Referring to Fig. 1, the socket of the present invention includes a base plate ll made of any suitable insulating material, preferably of the ceramic type, such as the material known under the trade name "Ceramic Alsimag 196." Other materials such as Bakelite. "Mycalex or Polystearin Resin, etc., may of course be used, depending on the particular'purpose for which the socket may be used. In the embodiment illustrated the base plate is rectangular in shape but it, may also be round or polygonal. Base plate II has a central opening I2 preferably of circular shape so as to receive tube I3 (Fig. 2) which is shown to be of the acorn type and is provided with a plurality of radially extending connector prongs 25.

Base plate II has five depressions I4 receding from, and distributed along the periphery of central opening I2. Within each of these depressions there is mounted a connector clip I5 made of spring sheet metal, for example phosphor bronze. Each connector clip has a fiat horizontal base portion I6 (Fig. 3) which is secured to base plate II by means of a screw I1 (Figs. 1 and 2) protruding through a central hole I'Ia (Fig. 3) in base portion I6 and a corresponding hole in the base plate I I.

In the direction facing tube I3 base portion I6 of the clip is provided with a resilient lip I8 extending upwardly at an oblique angle of preferably 45. In the particular embodiment shown base portion I6 and lip I8 are made of an in-.

tegral piece of sheet metal, holes I9a and I9!) being provided to render their bend line more flexible. Due to the oblique angle at which lip I8 extends upwardly, edge 20a of its upper end is placed somewhat higher than edge 28b thus acting like a vertically directed cutting knife (Figs. 2 and 4).

Base portion I6 is also provided with a lateral extension 2| protruding upwardly therefrom and arranged to support a vertical lip 22 of sheet metal placed a distance above edge 20a and extending substantially parallel with said edge 20a. The bend line between base portion I6 and lateral extension 2I is such that extension 2I may yield laterally. My clip construction should preferably be such that both lips have approximately the same degree of resiliency vertically. Due to the fact that lower end 23 of upper lip 22 is a longer distance away from its axis of rotation than the distance by'which edge 20a is removed from the axis of rotation of lower lip I8, upper lip 2'2 would yield somewhat more readily than the lower'lip due to increased leverage. To compensate for this inequality I provide perforations I9a and ISb in the bend line of base portion 16 and lower lip I8 as heretofore described.

The depressions I4 in base plate II within which the connector clips are mounted are of such depth that lips I8 will protrude slightly above the upper surface of the plate. The bottom area of the depressions is just sufficient to accommodate the connector clip but its wall 24 has a slight taper widening towards the top so as to leave space for a limited lateral movement of extension 2I of the connector clip (Figs. 5 and 6).

construction described above it is inserted into the central opening I2 so that its prongs rest As may be seen from Fig. 2, central opening I2 of base plate II is of such size and connector clips I5 are so positioned relative to the tube that lips I8 and 22 of the connector clips will engage the connector prongs of the tube as closely as possible to the points where the prongs 25 protrude from the glass of the tube. This shortens the current path from the inner electrodes of the tube'to the connected circuit elements or ground and thus reduces the danger of introducing unwanted inductance or distributed capacitance into the tube circuits.

The horizontal length of the two opposing lips on base II, each prong placed opposite the open end of its proper connector clip. By a lateral twist of the tube each prong is then pushed into its clip forcing lower lip I8 to yield. downwardly around an axis perpendicularly to the direction of the tube prong and forcing upper lip 22 to yield upwardly around an axis parallel to the prong (Figs. 2 and 6). If 2. prong is of the proper level axially of the tube, the two lips will yield to approximately the same extent, but if a tube prong is axiall displaced compared with other prongs of the same tube, one of the lips will yield to a greater extent than the other depending on direction and degree of the axial displacement of the particular prong. Due to the position of lower lip I8 with its edge 20a so disposed as to have its sharpness directed substantially normal to the prong, edge 200, will cut into, rather than yield too readily to the tube prong. Hence it will penetrate any layers of poorly conductive material that may cover the surface of the prong and thus reliably establish conductive contact between tube prong and clip. Thus it is unnecessary to provide lower lip I8 with a special cutting blade. The lower end 23 of upper lip 22 on the other hand faces the tube prong with the full thickness of the material from which it is made so that any cutting action is considerably reduced.

If in inserting the tube into the socket, there is a tendency to turn the tube too far, one or more of the tube prongs will ultimately strike lateral extension 2I of the connector clip and thus be stopped from any further angular movement so that there is no danger of an one of the tube prongs being accidentaly pushed through and out of contact with the connector clip.

As shown in Fig. 2 the socket arrangement of the present invention is such that screws I'I directly connect their clips with ground as represented by metal frame 26 or condenser 21 respectively, formed by condenser plate 21a and frame 26 withmica plate 21b interposed. In order to establish contact with the desired electrode of the condenser the opening 28 of metal frame 26 through which screw I1 protrudes should be sufficlently wide to exclude accidental contactbetween screw l1 and metal frame 26. Hence. the use of lead wires such as have heretofore been used for the connection of tubes with circuit elements or ground, and as invariably introduced such amounts ,of undesired inductances or stray capacitances as are definitely harmful in ultra short wave operation, have been completely superseded.

Thus, the construction of my clip and socket arrangement is such that I reliably secure conductive contact between tube. prong and one predetermined place of the connector clip, namely the upper edge 20a of lower lip I8, no matter what the axial or angular disalignment of a particular tube prong may be and no matter 1 whether the tube prong may be covered with nonconductive material or not. Furthermore, my construction is such that the current path from this place of contact to screw I! which establishes contact with other circuit elements or ground is of the shortest feasible length and is free from any sharp bends or turns so that there is no danger of varying and excessive amounts of inductances and capacitances to be introduced into the tube circuits; and what small amount of stray capacitances or stray inductances may be introduced into the particular tube circuits will always be substantially the same for all connector clips and all tube prongs whether of the same tube or of replacement tubes. Moreover, due to the fact that the space between the two lips of my connector clip is smaller than the diameter of the tube prongs so that force is required to push the prongs into their places, and due to the biting action of upper edge 20a of the lower lip I 8 on the connector prong, the tube once placed into its proper position is held firmly in its place and will not be loosened or dislodged therefrom by vibration or shocks such as may occur during practical use.

While I have described and illustrated my invention with'the aid of a particular embodiment thereof and applied to a particular type of tube, I do not limit myself thereto. My invention may be used in equivalent structures without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention whaifl claim is:

1. A connector clip for sockets for radio tubes of the type in which radial connector prongs of 3 a radio tube are engaged with the connector clips of the socket by rotational movement of the tube relatively to the socket, which connector clip includes in combination a base portion for attachment to a socket, a lip extending upwardlyfrom said base portion at an oblique angle and culminating in an edge, and a prong retaining element disposed above said edge, said lip and said retaining element being arranged to yield downwardly and upwardly respectively around axes substantially at right angles to one another.

2. A connector clip for sockets for radio tubes of the type in which radial connector prongs of a radio tube are engaged with the connector clips of the socket by rotational movement of the tube relatively to the socket, which connector clip includes in combination a base portion for attachment to a socket, a lower lip extending upwardly from said base portion at an oblique angle and culminating in an edge, an upper lip supported from said base portion and disposed above said edge, said lower lip being arranged to yield downwardly around an axis substantially parallel to its edge and said upper lip being arranged to yield upwardly around an axis substantially at right angles to said edge.

3. A connector clip for sockets for radio tubes of the type in which radial connector prongs of a radio tube are engaged with the connector clips of the socket by rotational movement of the tube relatively to the socket, which connector clip includes in combination a base portion for attachment to a socket, a lower lip extending upwardly therefrom at an oblique angl and culminating in an edge, a laterally situated extension of said base portion rising upwardly therefrom, and an upper lip supported by said extension above the edge of said lower lip, said lower lip being arranged to yield downwardly around an axis substantially parallel to its edge and said upper hp 4. A connector clip for sockets for radio tubes of the type in which radial connector prongs of a radio tube are engaged with the connector clips of the socket by rotational movement of the tube relatively to the socket, which connector clip includes in combination a base portion for attachment to a socket, a lower lip extending upwardly therefrom at an oblique angle and culminating in a straight edge, a laterally situated extension of said base portion rising upwardly therefrom, and an upper lip supported by said extension parallel to and above -the edge of said lower lip,-

said lower lip being arranged to yield downwardly around an axis substantially parallel to its edge and said upper lip being arranged to yield upwardly around an axis substantially at right angles to said edge with substantially equal degrees of resiliency vertically.

5. A socket for radio tubes of the type in which radial connector prongs of a radio tube are engaged with the connector clips of the socket by rotational movement of the tube relatively to the socket, which socket includes in combination a mounting plate having a central opening to accommodate a tube and a plurality of connector clips arranged circumferentially of said central opening, each of said clips including a horizontal base portion for attachment to said mounting plate, a lip resiliently connected to and extending upwardly from said base portion 'at an oblique angle, said lip culminating in an edge extending substantially tangentially to said opening for engaging a tube prong by rotary movement of said tube, and a prong-retaining element disposed a distanc above said edge.

6. A socket for radio tubes of the type in which radial connector prongs of a radio tube are engaged with the connector clips of the socket by rotational movement of the tube relatively to the socket, which socket includes in combination a mounting plate having a central opening to accommodate a tube and a plurality of connector clips arranged circumferentially of said central opening, each of said clips including a horizontal base portion for attachment to said mounting plate, a lower lip resiliently connected to and extending upwardly from said base portion at an oblique angle, said lower lip culminating in a straight edge extending substantially tangentially to said central opening for engaging a tube prong by rotary movement of said tube, a laterally situated extension of said base portion rising upwardly therefrom, and an upper lip resiliently supported by said extension parallel to and a'distance above the edge of said lower lip.

7. A socket for radio tubes of the type in which radial connector prongs of a radio tube are engaged with the connector clips of the socket by rotational movement of the tube relatively to the socket, which socket includes in combination a 4- I 2,290,506 and a distance above the edge of said lower lip. mounting plate, a lip extending upwardlyat an said lower lip being arranged to yield downwardly oblique angle and culminating in a straight edge around an axle substantially parallel to said edge disposed slightly above the upper surface ofsaid and said upper lip being arranged to yield up- 'mounting plate and extending substantially tanwardly around an axissubstantially radially 0! 5 gentially to said central opening for engaging a said opening. tube prong by rotational movement of the tube, a 8. A socket for radio tubes of the type in which laterally situated extension of said base portion radial connector prongs of a radio tube are enrising upwardly therefrom, an upper lip supgaged with the connector clips of the socket by ported by said extension parallel to and above the rotational movement of the tube relatively to the 10 edge of said lower lip, said lower lip being arsocket, which socket includes in combination a ranged to yield downwardly around an axis sub-- mounting plate having a central opening to acstantially parallel to said edge and said upper lip commodate a tube, and a number of tapered de- I being arranged to yield upwardly around an axis pressions eircumferentially of said central opensubstantially radially of said opening with sub ing, a connector clip disposed in and fittingeach 15 stantially equal degrees of resiliency.

of said depressions, each of said connector clips including a base portion for attachment to said SIDNEY YOUNG WHITE.

I CERTiFIGATE "or CORRECTION Patent no. 2,290,506. 1 July 21,19 2.

SIDNEY YOUNG warm.

It is hereby certified that error appears printed a pecifi-z-.e.ti--.x of the above numbered patent requiring correct-lea as follows: Page 2, sec- 0nd column, Line I; after "which" insert "thee; 1ine 11.9, ror'accidentaly" read -accidenta11y--; page h first column, lihe 5, claim 7, for "axle" read "axisand that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may confom tothe record ofthe case in the Patent- Ofiice. Signed and sealed, thia- 129th dayof September, A. I). 1914.2.

Henry- Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Ccnnmissioner of Patents. 

